2013 Masseria Felicia Falerno del Massico DOC

80% Aglianico 20% Piedirosso

an inexpensive, aged and smokey Aglianico- it's rare to find these kinds of wine with bottle age.

Falerno del Massico, where art thou? In all of Campania's volcanic wine zones, this most historic growing area is probably the most sconosciuto (unknown). The region was re-codifed in 1989, but named after Falernum, the ancient Roman term for the wine region.

Falernum was perhaps the first recorded Grand Cru of the world, as archaeologists discovered etchings on walls listing the different tiers of Falernum wines and their prices. Wines from this coveted region were the most expensive of its kind in ancient Rome.

The small 5 hectare organic estate produces its wines in the area of Monte Massico at 200m asl. Felicia Brini managed the family estate until her sudden death in 2019, but she made the Masseria Felicia name synonymous with the Falerno region.

The volcanic grey tuff soils and the Aglianico grape give this wine extreme aging potential and the winery releases the wines after years of holding them back. The wine is fermented with native yeasts in open chestnut vats before it rests in stainless steel.